WRITTEN QUESTION E-0903/02 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Promoting the sale of agricultural products.
Date: 2002-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU production, agricultural product, marketing, third country

C 229 E/158

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

(2002/C 229 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0900/02

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2002)

Subject: Federal Mogul Friction Products Ltd

Is the Commission aware of the thousands of claims and potential claims against this company from its
employees in the USA and the European Union for exposure to asbestos?

Is the Commission aware that the international company, Federal Mogul, is seeking to avoid paying out on
asbestos claims by selectively applying for Chapter 11/Administration in those countries where claims are
made, whilst continuing to trade elsewhere?

Within the single European market, is such behaviour legal and, if not, what course of action can be taken
to seek redress?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 2002)

The Commission is not aware neither of any claim against the company to which the Honourable Member
refers nor of its behaviour regarding any potential claim.

At European level, Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers
from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of
Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) (1), provides that employers take appropriate specified measures in
order to protect workers against the risks caused by asbestos at work.

Nevertheless, this Directive does not address the issue of compensations for diseases caused by asbestos.
The treatment of claims for compensation for exposure to asbestos falls outside the sphere of
competencies of the Commission. Therefore, the assessment of the legality of this situation shall be dealt
with at national level.

(1) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.

(2002/C 229 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0903/02

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Promoting the sale of agricultural products

(5 April 2002)

In one of its newsletters (February 2002, Finnish version), the Commission announces that it has adopted
measures to promote sales of agricultural products outside the EU between 2002 and 2005. Certain
products are quoted by way of example whose countries of origin are Italy, France, Spain and Belgium.
How balanced is the support provided for products from the various countries, and how much support is
provided to promote sales of Finnish products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the list of products that can be promoted in
third countries, annexed to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2879/2000 of 28 December 2000 laying
down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 on measures to provide
information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries (1), covers sectors involving all the
Member States.

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/159

None of the programmes submitted to the Commission in 2001 came from a Finnish trade or inter-trade
organisation.

(1) OJ L 333, 29.12.2000.

(2002/C 229 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0913/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Food safety problems

Commissioner Byrne warned recently about the dangers posed by lack of food safety in third countries.

In particular there is a threat to the European market from food originating from Turkey, Russia,
Bylorussia, the Ukraine and Moldavia where health checks on food are non-existent.

In view of the above, will the Commission say what measures it intends to take to protect the health of
European consumers and whether it is aware of any cases of insanitary food being imported into Greece
from third countries?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2002)

For products of animal origin import conditions and import controls are harmonised at Community level.
There is a considerable body of Community veterinary legislation to ensure that acceptable animal health
and public health standards are met for all imported consignments. Such products may only be imported
into the Community in accordance with this legislation, which is aimed at ensuring that health standards
in imported products are at least as high as those applicable to Community production.

For food of non-animal origin, import conditions and import controls are not harmonised at Community
level. However, the general principle applies: food imported into the Community for placing on the market
within the Community shall comply with the relevant requirements of food law or conditions recognised
by the Community to be at least equivalent thereto. It is the aim to harmonise these import conditions by
including a procedure for that purpose in the forthcoming proposal on official food and feed controls
referred to in the White Paper on food safety (1).

This general principle is embedded in Community law through Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (2) which
provides that the Member States notify to the Commission any findings related to a direct or indirect risk
to human health through the rapid alert system for feed and food. In case of regular serious findings
concerning a product from a third country, a measure may be taken to temporarily impose special import
conditions or even to suspend imports of that product. For the future, the Commission proposal on feed
and food controls will
include procedures to ensure further harmonisation of import conditions and
import controls for this type of food.

Since January 2001 there have been 27 notifications from Greece to the rapid alert system mainly for nuts
and vegetable products. For 25 consignments the products were not permitted entry to the Community.
Only two notifications resulted in an alert being signaled to other Member States through the rapid alert
system. One alert concerned glass in a chocolate powder, and the other chloramphenicol found in frozen
shrimps.

(1) COM(1999) 719 final.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of 28 January 2002, of the Parliament and the Council laying down the general
principles of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of
food safety, OJ L 31, 1.2.2002.